Warming device for automobiles steering-wheels.



F. E. MGORORY. WARMING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE STEERING WHEELS. APPLICATION FILED 001221, 1912.

1 ,@8%,890. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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FREDERICK E. MOCBORY, 01' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHN D. PITTS, 015 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WARMING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE STEERING-WHEELS.

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Specification of Letters Ifatent.

Patented Jan. 20,1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnnonmox E. Mo- Caonr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Warming Devices for Automobile Steering- Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to warming devices ,for steering wheels of automobiles, motor boats and the like.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a structure whereby the exaust gases of the engine of an automobile, motor boat or the like may be utilized for heating the ripping rim of the steering wheel of the evice so as to increase thecomfort of the operator in cold weather.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and C0111- bination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention. in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which ligure 1 is a plan View of the steering wheel and column of an automobile having the invention associated therewith. Fig. 2 a section on-the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 a View similar to Fig. 3 looking toward the steering wheel. Fig. a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 a detail perspectiveview ot' the up er end of the steering column.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a steering wheel which includes a run 10, spokes 11 and a hub 12. This hub 12 1s provided with an exterior-1y threaded downward extension 13 and the lower end oi. this extension is provided with concentrically arranged grooves 14; and 15 the groove 1 being disposed inwardly oi the groove 15. The hub extension 13 is provided within the groove 14 with. a recess 16 which receives the upper end'of the steering column 17. Disposed withinthe steering column 17 is a steering post 18 which extends through the hub 12 and is secured to the steering wheel by means of a nut 19 threaded on its upper end. Surrounding the column 17 and abutting the lower end of the extension 13 of the hub is a ring 21 and the 'face of this ring adjacent the lower end of the hub extension 13 is provided with concentrically arranged grooves 1.4 and 15 which mate respectively with the grooves 14 and 15 in the lower end of the extension 13 and form in conjunction with said grooves 1 1 and 15 circular channels as will be obvious. Mounted in the ring 21 is a key 22 which projects into a vertical slot 23 formed in the column'17 and which serves to hold the ring 21 againstrotation upon said column. The ring 21 is further provided with vertical passages 24-v and 25 which comnnmicate'at their upper ends with the grooves 1 1 and 15 respecti vely and at their lower ends with inlet and outlet pipes 26 and 27 respectively said.

pipes being suitably secured to the ring 21. The pipe 26, it will be understood is extended and suitably connected with the exhaust of the engine of the automobile with which the steering wheel A isassociated, while the pipe 27 is also extended so as to discharge the exhaust gases at a suitable location. Threaded on the extcnsion13 of the hub '12 is a cap 28 and disposed in said cap with one end bearing against the head thereof and the other end bearing against the ring 21 is a spring 29 which constantly tends to .l'orce the ring 21 into engagement with the extension 13 and thereby prevent the escape.

of gases between the ringand extension 13.

The rim 10 of the steering wheel A is provided with a continuous passage 330, while alincd spokes 11 of said steering wheel are provided with passages 31 which communicate at their outer ends with the passage 30 and are extended downwardly at their inner ends so as to comn'iunicate respectively with the grooves 1 1 and 15 in the lower end of the extension 18 of the hub.

In the operation of the device it will be appagent that the exhaust gases from the engine will pass through the pipe 26, pas sage 24- and thence, into the passage formed by the grooves 14: and 14. The gases will then pass through one of the passages 31 in it spoke of the steering wheel and thence into the. passage 30 in the rim of said wheel. The

. gases thus introduced into the rimLlO will phi heat the same and afford the necessary Warmth thereto to render comfortable the operation of steering the automobile in cold Weather. The gases introduced into the passage 30 after circulating freely around the rim will then be discharged into the other passage 31 from Where it will pass into the channel formed by the grooves 15 and 15 and thence through the passage 25 and pipe 27 to the atmosphere.

What I claim is The combination of a steering column, a steering post rotatably mounted Within the steering column, a steering Wheel fixed on the upper end of said steering post for rotation therewith, said steering wheel includ ing; a rim, spokes and hub, the rim of said Wheel being provided Witlr a continuous passage, and alined spokes thereof being provided with passages communicating with the rim passage at their outer ends, said huh being provided on its lower end with a pair of concentric grooves coniea-moo niunicating respectively with the inner ends of the passages in the spokes, a fixed ring surrounding and secured to the steering column and hearing against thelower end of said hub, said ring having its upper end provided with a pair of concentric grooves mating with the respective grooves in the lower end of the hub ard forming in co n junction with the latter concentrically arranged passages, said ring being further provided with vertical passages communieating at their upper ends with respective grooves in the upper end of the ring, v inlet and outlet pipes coinniunicatii'ig said vertical passages respectively, said inlet pipe being adapted for connection with the exhaust or an explosive engine.

In testimony whereof, ll allix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERlCK E. MoCRORY.

lVitncsses:

J. Hose,

C. A, innit, 

